Information in this report is taken from the Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MedPAR) file which is updated annually by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the federal organization that oversees the programs. The file provides billing data for all Medicare fee-for-service claims. It does not, however, contain data for other patients.
Each patient is categorized into Medicare Severity-adjusted Diagnosis Related Groups (Base MS-DRGs) according to diagnostic information, the procedures performed, patient age, and other factors. Our report is based on Base MS-DRGs, but uses modified descriptions to make them easier to read and understand. The Base MS-DRGs with the largest numbers of admissions (as ranked by volume for Louisiana hospitals) are reported:
IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT ACTUAL PAYMENTS TO THE HOSPITAL MAY DIFFER SIGNIFICANTLY FROM CHARGES. THE MEDICARE PROGRAM MAKES FIXED PAYMENTS FOR BASE MS-DRG'S REGARDLESS OF A HOSPITAL'S CHARGES AND INSURANCE COMPANIES MAY NEGOTIATE DISCOUNTED PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS.